I was surprised recently to find out that there will actually be a football game played this coming Sunday. It seems to me that especially in recent years the focus of the Super Bowl has shifted from the game itself.
Let’s start with the two weeks leading up to the game. After what is arguably one of the most exciting Sundays all season with two conference championship games we are forced to wait two weeks for the big game. Now from the players standpoint I agree that this helps both teams rest up and prepare so they can be at their best, but from a fans standpoint how much can you analyze one game? Credit the media for trying to keep our interest up by reporting from every possible angle. There is also one big story every year that supposedly will dramatically affect the outcome of the game. This year it was boot-gate. Raise your hand if you’re tired of the 45 minute segment dedicated to Tom Brady’s limp. As if that isn’t bad enough, we are subjected to several media days. The only thing worth watching these for is betting on which player is going to make the guarantee this year. For those attending the game there are pre-parties along with pre-parties to the pre parties. As for those who actually attend the game, more often than not the true fans are confined to the upper-deck. But then again who would want to pay big bucks to sit in the lower level with fans that probably couldn’t even tell you who is on the field, but are clad head-to-toe with corporate stickers and are quick to recount how they won their tickets from their favorite soft drink? And while I’m on the subject of tickets, they are said to be going for as much as $4,000. $4,000? I’ll tell you what I would do with that amount of money. I would by a brand new entertainment center to watch the game on, completely stock the fridge, and still have plenty of money to send the Mrs. on a shopping spree during the game.
As for the game itself, I couldn’t even tell you when kickoff is, but I’m sure I could find out during the 12 hours of pre-game. And then there is the halftime show. I can’t help but laugh at the commercials that advertise who is playing this year as if the first half of the game was merely an opening act. And lest we forget the ever-popular commercials. If you’re like me you know people that only watch the game for the commercials. There will be a bigger section in the next day’s paper about which commercials were the funniest or the most offensive. The game has faded into the background; just an excuse to have a party.
Now I can’t say that I don’t enjoy Super Bowl Sunday like anyone else, but as a true football fan I wish more focus could be on the game itself. Why can’t it be simulcast on a separate station where the announcers won’t tell us what beer brought us the first down we just saw? But in a time where we have to do things bigger and better then the year before, we have no choice but to sit back and enjoy the ride. Besides, August is a long way off.
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